Greatest Drummers

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1
Neil Peart

nobody else compares to Peart. Simply the best by a large margin.

I have to agree the lars is great but when it comes to being the best? well neil is in a class all by himself. I like lars don't get me wrong. I am a huge metallica fan, but if I had to rate lars I would have to put him third behind neil and mike portnoy of dream theatre. this mans skills are superior.

This Man is awesome in every measurable sense - period.

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2Lars Ulrich

Lars Ulrich got me interested in drumming. I watched him live and it changed my life. if that makes any sense

best drummer ever, I'd love to see any other drummer on this list try out that 2nd foot pedal

awesome drummer

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3Keith Moon

I've seen Metallica and Rush live, but just listening to The Who studio versions more than surpasses anything enyone else can do.

If there's one drummer that truly embodies rock and roll, someone who was not just a great drummer but the only one who did what he did, and was just as important as anyone in the group he was in, it was Keith Moon. Not technically the best, but the best rock drummer.

Keith was without contest a genius and knew how to integrate his raw energy to his virtuoso's skills. He was the essential touch and texture to the Who's masterpieces. Noel Gallagher below is damn right about Keith!

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4John Bonham

John Bonham owned Led Zeppelin -- he didn't just keep the beat.

He's probably the best drummer besides Keith Moon.

. . . and some say he doesn't need a foot at all. some say a certain organ of the male body is his best whackin device for the drums

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5Buddy Rich

Many voters are too young to know Buddy's talent. I've heard them all and still marvel at Rich.

This guy is the best and the fastest drmmer of all time.

"His sticks were not only the fastest but the most consistent, balanced and even strokes on the planet in any generation. "

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6Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan

That guy has got the fastest feet I've ever heard!

the rev is the reason I started playing the drums! he should be number 1 he's crazy awesome!

jimmy has so much talent. he should be number 1.

7Danny Carey

tabla solos, odd time signatures, polyrhythms and polymeters. A 26 peiece set that he utilizes with complete freedom and perfection... a modern genius.

simply beautiful.

Incredible, monster on drums...

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8Dave Grohl

Nirvanna and the Foo Fighters... enough said

9Ringo Starr

Phil Collins (who has always been a big Beatles fan since he was 13 years old in the audience of The Beatles concert in their great film A Hard Day's Night in 1994 he hosted The Making Of A Hard Day's Night and said how great their music was in this film and along with Pete Townsend played on 2 songs on Paul McCartney's 1986 Press To Play album) and Max Weinberge praise Ringo's drumming and musician and song writer Peter Cross in his excellent online article,The Beatles Are The Most Creative Band Of All Time, says that Ringo might be underrated by the public but he's not by most professional drummers and that he perfected the art of drum sounds and he said no drummer has ever recorded so many different sounds on so many different sounding records.


He also says that Ringo invented a new style of slow drum playing epitomized on A Day In The Life and Strawberry Fields Forever. He also said that John said many times that Ringo has the best back beat in the business and he said and the professional studio drummers understand why John was correct.

Phil Collins has said that he can't duplicate Ringo's great drumming on A Day In The Life and George Martin said that Ringo always had a great ear and feel for a song and that it was his idea to play the tom toms on A Day In The Life giving the song a disctintive percussion sound. Also in Mark Lewisohn's excellent detailed Beatles music diary,The Beatles Recording Sessions,he explains that in the 100's of recorded takes The Beatles did for over 100 of their great songs Ringo rarely ever made a mistake that stopped the tapes from running and he said his drumming was excellent and consistent from 1962-1970!

His drumming has also been pointed out as great on Tomorrow Never Knows,She Said She Said,Rain(which he says is his best drumming ever)and Abbey Road.His drumming is also very good on a very early Beatles song,Thank You Girl especially towards the end.

Also, when The Beatles got Ringo to join The Beatles he was in no way an inexperienced drummer,he was already playing for one of the top successful Liverpool bands,Rory Storm and The Huricanes for seceral years when they got him.And George Martin didn't think Pete Best was a good enough drummer and that Ringo was much better and The Beatles agreed.

lucyinthesky

Ringo is the best drummmer of all time, he should be number one

He is definitely underrated because he was never flashy. He held a perfect beat and added the right touch and subtlety to some of the best songs ever waxed.

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10Joey Jordison

jordison is amazing. big inspiration for me

Just amazing

cus he's the best drummer ever

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11Steven Adler

Nobody changed 80's rock like gnr. Yes, Slash and Axl made it up but drummers also play the important role although he got some problem with drugs

12Mike Portnoy

mike portnoy is the best drummer of all time because of his super speed feet and super speed hands... dream theatew fan

"Dream theater is probably my favorite rock band. Portnoy's drums are the best part"

He should be #2 right after Neil Peart

13Chad Smith

Yes, he is technical, but his patented metalic sounding snare with different beats to everysong with RHCP, there are none better.

14Gene Krupa

No drummer was ever as exciting as Gene. Greatest beat of all.

Krupa was the first drummer to become a star. The man was cutting edge.

the best drummer ever

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15Carter Beauford

Seeing him play is like watching Jordan.

just go to youtube... he's not a rock speed drummer... look at the way each of his four limbs work independently of one another

16Matt Sorum
17Yoshiki Hayashi

he is the man!

18Dominic Howard

he is the best drummer, without any doubt

19Bob Bryar

bob bryar is the best

20Andy Hurley

Andy of Fall Out Boy is the most creative drummer I know of

21Stewart Copeland
22Peter Criss

Peter Criss finally gets some respect for being the first drummer of KISS!

23Tommy Lee

He is a great example for a Metal/rock drummer Lars Ulrich should be in 28th place.

24Eric Singer
25Ginger Baker

Pull up "toad" on you tube. That's the story.

Ginger Baker is the best rock drummer of all time by far

26Bill Ward

Come on... Black Sabbath... one of the most influencial drummers of all time.

27Harry Judd
28Jimmy Chamberlin

Drummer of Smashing Pumpkins and he has a solo project too. He's the best when it comes to make some paradidles in the snare drum and I have to mention that he is knows how to give a great feeling to every song. He has a fast and smart jazz-like playing style. I love to hear his songs.

29Chad Sexton
30Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
31John Otto
32Jaska Raatikainen
33Don Henley
34Steve Smith
35Nicko McBrain - Iron Maiden
36Deen Castronovo

He is one awesome drummer.

37Nick Mason
38Dave Lombardo
39Aaron Gillespie

Underoath = Amazing.

40Bill Bruford

How could Bill not be anywhere on this list?

41Max Roach
42Bill Kreutzmann

Not on the list?

43James Kottak
44Tommy Aldridge
45Mike Wengren
46Zak Starkey

the greatest drummer since the world lost moon and bonham. much better than his father ringo star

47Chris Adler
48Cozy Cole
49Jimmy Chamberlin

Smashing Pumpkins. Killer snare rolls.

50Art Blakey
51Mickey Hart

Again another great drummer missing

52Rob Bourdon - Linkin Park
53Steve Gadd - Session Musician
54Charlie Watts - The Rolling Stones
55Carl Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
56Jim Keltner - Session Drummer
57Kenny Jones - Small Faces
58Max Weinberg - E Street Band
59Tony Williams

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List Info

This list was created on June 23, 2008 and has been voted on over 400 times.